Central Michigan University Athletics
Marlin Maxwell Profile
9/27/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 27, 2005
Reprinted from Gameday Program -- Indiana
By Lauren Carey
Sports Information Student Assistant
For senior strong safety Marlin Maxwell, the 2005 season cannot kick off soon enough.
"We've been working hard all summer long and are ready to see what we're made of," Maxwell said. "I'm just ready to take it to the field and see what we've got. This is my last year and it's time to take it to the next level."
For Maxwell and his teammates, playing a Big Ten opponent in Kelly/Shorts Stadium under the lights on national television creates an unusual amount of excitement around the program.
"Playing Indiana on a Friday night is going to be great," Maxwell said. "I haven't played a `big' night game under the lights since my high school days. It's going to bring back some memories, that's for sure."
Maxwell believes starting the season off at home against Big Ten foe Indiana is the perfect way to kick off the year. "We've worked and worked to get ourselves ready for this game, and now it's time to show it off," he said.
Maxwell has appeared in all 23 games over the past two years, making 17 starts. He has made 115 career tackles, including a career-high 16 against Toledo in 2003, and two interceptions.
Maxwell has made at least nine tackles in a game five times over the past two seasons.
This season will present a unique challenge, however, as Maxwell makes the switch from cornerback to strong safety.
The emergence of promising young players in the secondary has afforded the CMU coaching staff the ability to move the athletic Maxwell closer to the middle of the field.
Arguably the fastest player in the Chippewa secondary, Maxwell should be able to become even more of a playmaker from the strong safety spot. Along with any positional change comes a challenge, but Maxwell is well-prepared for the move.
"I'm ready for the new position, anything to help my team," he said.
Maxwell, who began playing organized football at the age of 11, came to CMU after a successful athletic career at Cass Tech High School in Detroit, Michigan. He was a three-time letterman in baseball and football, playing tailback and defensive back on the gridiron. He also handled the punting and place-kicking chores.
An industrial technology management major, Maxwell has loved his time here at Central Michigan University, and can't believe how fast the past three years have gone. Looking back at the memories of the past three seasons, it was not hard at all for Maxwell to think of a memory that stands out among the rest.
"My buddy from high school, Braylon Edwards, played for Michigan and when we played the Wolverines in 2003 it was awesome," Maxwell said. "He plays for the Cleveland Browns now, but that was quite the game."
Maxwell also acknowledged how much his CMU teammates mean to him. "I love my teammates, I don't know where I'd be without them," he said.
Following graduation, Maxwell has dreams of starting a professional career.
"After the season I'm going to keep working out and keep trying to improve my abilities," Maxwell said. "Versatility is something every coach looks for in their players, so I've got that going for me. I'll play anywhere."
